BJP, Sangh Parivar welcome SC decision to give bail to Seer

PTI, SANKARACHARYA-SANGH
NEW DELHI, JAN 10 (PTI)

The BJP and the Sangh Parivar today welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to grant bail to the Kanchi Sankaracharya while accusing the Tamil Nadu Government of making a "planned effort" to tarnish the reputation of the seer and the 'mutt'.

"We welcome the decision of the court. A planned effort was being made to tarnish the reputation of the highly respected seer. We hope that the nefarious designs of the vested interests would be exposed in the coming days," BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told PTI.

He accused the ruling parties at the Centre and the state of "silently supporting" such efforts.

Welcoming the apex Court's decision, RSS spokesman Ram Madhav said that the arguments in the court showed that the state Government's arguments to prevent bail to the Sankaracharya was weak.

"From the outset, we have maintained that these are baseless allegations and the seer shouls be given an oppoortunity to face the challenge," he said.

Accusing the state Government of indulging in "baseless propaganda to tarnish the image and reputation of an ancient Hindu institution," Madhav expressed the hope that the 'mutt' would take the initiative to remove the apprehensions in the minds of the people.

"We are with the 'mutt'," he said.

Welcoming the Supreme Court move, VHP Senior Vice President Acharya Giriraj Kishore said "finally justice has been given to the seer though delayed.

Kishore demanded that the Tamil Nadu Government apologise to the seer and withdraw the cases against him forthwith in the light of the Supreme Court's decision. VHP Secretary General Praveen Togadia said "the very fact that the Supreme Court has granted bail to the Sankaracharya means that the Tamil Nadu police could not present concrete evidence against him.

"Since it could not gather evidence even after two months, the state Government should immediately withdraw the cases against the seer and seek forgiveness from Hindus for hurting their religious sentiments," he added.

Togadia said VHP Working President Ashok Singhal would visit Chennai to felicitate the Sankaracharya on his release from jail.

"We will also hold special prayers on the occasion," he said.